Air Force Drones May Fire Laser Weapons
The New York Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing conducted their first MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) flying operation from Hancock Field Air National Guard Base and Syracuse Hancock International Airport on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015. (Defense Department photo/Eric Miller)The New York Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing conducted their first MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) flying operation from Hancock Field Air National Guard Base and Syracuse Hancock International Airport on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015. (Defense Department photo/Eric Miller)
Posted By: Kris Osborn January 8, 2016
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Air Force drones will one day fire high-tech laser weapons to destroy high-value targets, conduct precision strikes and incinerate enemy locations from the sky, senior service officials told Scout Warrior.
The Air Force Research Laboratory is already working on a program to develop laser weapons for manned aircraft to arm cargo planes and fighter jets by the mid-2020s. When it comes to drones, there does not yet appear to be a timetable for when fired lasers would be operational weapons — however weapons technology of this kind is moving quickly.
In an interview with Scout Warrior, Air Force Chief Scientist Dr. Greg Zacharias said future laser weapons could substantially complement existing ordnance or drone-fired weapons such as a Hellfire missile.
http://defensetech.org/2016/01/08/air-force-drones-may-fire-laser-weapons/
